An expansion of production space is expected to bring more than 90 new jobs to Mendon's International Automotive Components over the next two years.

The 30,000-square-foot addition is the result of new business secured by the Southfield-based company, according to spokesman David Ladd. As a result, the company is expected to hire between 90 and 95 additional employees at the Mendon site.

Village Manager John Hyden said $4 million of the $5.1 million expansion is earmarked for new equipment. The balance covers the cost of the expansion, to take place on the west side of the property IAC acquired from Mendon Community Schools.

Hyden said IAC is seeking a 12-year tax abatement for the full cost of the investment. A public hearing on the matter is scheduled to take place at the village council's Feb. 11 meeting.

The Mendon IAC plant, which currently has 198,000-square-feet of production space, makes hard-plastic, interior trim pieces and other accessories primarily for full-size GM pickups, the Chrysler Ram and Ford F-150.

Ron Kitchens, CEO of Southwest Michigan First, said the expansion has the potential to produce a ripple effect throughout the area.

"When other companies see an international corporation look to Mendon for an expansion of this size, it's a stamp of approval," he said. "It validates that Mendon, St. Joseph County, Southwest Michigan can provide a solid, trained, dedicated workforce."

He said IAC currently has about 800 employees in Mendon.

Further elaborating on the benefits of IAC's expansion and creation of new jobs, Kitchens said the number of spin-off jobs created by a manufacturer such as IAC is about 1.8. That means for every job at IAC, 1.8 jobs exist in the form of local retail and service, and companies whose employees provide materials to IAC. "With 800 employees currently, that's 1,440 jobs that exist elsewhere because of IAC Mendon," Kitchens said, adding the village of Mendon has been a good business partner with IAC.